MEXICO
Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen seen from harbour_{Photo: Brad Nelson CC 2.5 Generic no changes made}

The Mexican east coast sometimes feels like paradise and the town of Playa del Carmen is no exception. Pearly white beaches as far as the eye can see, a sky blue sea and swaying palm trees are the standard here. It is no coincidence that this city, which used to be an important port for the Maya, is today a tourist paradise, where many hotels, resorts and apartments have been built to meet the enormous demand. For those looking for a vacation in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is definitely worth considering.

Location

Playa del Carmen_{Photo: TampAGS CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Playa del Carmen is located on the east coast of Mexico just below Cancun. Together with Riviera Maya, these two destinations are the most popular coastal towns on the east coast of this Central American country. Tourists come here for peace, sun, sea and sand, but can also pick up a touch of the ancient Mayan culture. Moreover, Playa del Carmen with its own airport is very easy to reach.

Weather

It is a good place to be in Playa del Carmen almost every day. The average temperature remains between 20 and 30 degrees throughout the year and the temperature of the sea does not drop below 26 degrees Celsius. The best months to travel to the east coast of Mexico are February to May. September and October are the rainy months, but even though there can be regular showers, it is certainly not annoying to stay there.

If you had traveled to Playa del Carmen 20 years ago, you would have found a small town there without many tourists. Only 5000 people lived there at the time. Today, an estimated 150,000 people already live in the Mexican resort. The growth in inhabitants is mainly due to the extreme growth of tourism. The place used to be a port for the Maya, who left here for Cozumel. It is funny that the city was discovered by tourists who were also on their way to Cozumel. It is estimated that the end of Playa del Carmen's growth is not yet in sight. A further twice as many inhabitants are expected in 2020.

Sights

Xcaret_{Photo: Juan Carlos Garcia CC 3.0 no changes made}

Although almost every tourist in Playa del Carmen comes for sun, sea and sand, it is also good to know that there is more to do, because lying on the beach every day is also boring. For example, you can spend a day at Xcaret. This is a nature and culture park in one. Remains of the ancient port of the Maya have been found here, who left for Cozumel Island from here. It was also a spiritual place and there was plenty of trade in goods.

Besides seeing the remnants of the ancient Mayan culture, Xcaret offers a lot more. There are various animals to see. Exotic fish in the large aquarium, flamingos, parrots and butterflies are just a few examples of the many animal and plant species you can discover here. Xcaret is a very nice change for young and old during a holiday in Playa del Carmen.

Tips

Playa del Carmen Beach_{Photo: Valueyou CC 3.0 no changes made}

As mentioned, the main attraction of the Mexican seaside resort is the beach. The idillyc beaches of Playa del Carmen are magical and ideal for a well-deserved vacation. Many hotels, apartments and resorts have been built right on these lush beaches.

In most hotels and resorts there will there are so many facilities that boredom will not easily arise. But if you still want to see more of the area, it is certainly advisable to go into the center of Playa del Carmen towards the end of the day. In the Spanish variant of Fifth Avenue, Quinta Avenida, you can stroll along nice shops, sit on terraces and various artists will amuse you in the evening.

Chitzen Itza_{Photo: Daniel Schwen CC 4.0 International no changes made}

And while you're in the city, pay a visit to the various remnants of the ancient Mayan culture. Chichen Itza, for example, is an ancient Maya city very close to the city's airport in southern Playacar. Tulum, a town about 60 kilometers south of Playa del Carmen, is also definitely worth a visit. The many ruins give a glimpse into one of the oldest developed societies in history.